INTERVIEW WITH MIKE GREY FROM PALM BEACH COLLECTION

I’ve always loved scented candles. Not only do they make your home smell amazing, but they double as a decorative item too. I was lucky enough to interview Mike Grey, one half of the talented duo behind Palm Beach Collection, a beautiful range of eco-friendly scented candles.

LISA TEH (LT): Congratulations on your new look packaging! What drove the change to update the aesthetic of Palm Beach Collection?

MIKE GREY (MG): It was time for a change, the old packaging styles had served us so well, however having two made it a bit confusing so we combined the two together. The new packaging has the style and sophistication of the old black packaging along with the relaxed Beach feel that the striped packaging had. We also gave each scent a colour which is on the bottom of the new packaging and really differentiates each scent.

LT: You both gave up your day job in 2009 to start Palm Beach Collection. What was the most challenging thing about this decision, and what has been the biggest highlight for you both to date since starting your company?

MG: Both Kirsten and I were engrained in our separate careers and had both reached a point where a refreshing change was a nice idea. Giving up the career that had supplied stability in our practical lives to chase a dream was a scary concept. The leap of faith was the toughest, as human beings we are trained to find what works and stick to it through fear of losing quality of life, especially when it is your bread and butter so to speak, giving up everything to try something new was a huge step out of that mould. The biggest highlight for me has been the realisation that not only have we made the change, but we are successful within it and have become very good at what we do. We have taken our life skills and applied to our new direction, I think it is a very healthy step in life.

LT: What makes Palm Beach Collection stand out from other candles on the market?

MG: Fine craftsmanship, love and care at a product level come first for sure. Only the finest quality across the board is expected within the Palm Beach team, this operates on so many levels from product through to service. We are a family based Australian made home fragrance collection that prides itself on staying that way. We see our competitors focusing on big growth hence saturating the market with sub-standard products. The proof is in the product itself, we are determined to create the perfect home fragrance collection as that is our goal.

LT: Can you tell us what inspired your new scent Quince?

MG: Mother’s day has inspired “Quince” being the signature scent. We like to start the year with a fresh new fragrance so we launched it at the Feb tradeshow in SYD along with the new packaging. Inspired by Quince this sophisticated fragrance combines the sweetness of this beautiful fruit with layers and tones of white flower favorites creating a fresh new fragrance for Mum.

LT: Scented candles have increased in popularity in recent years. What do you think has contributed to this, and why do you think everyone needs beautiful candles in their life?

There has always been the true lovers of sensory indulgence, me being one of them. I do believe over the past 5-10years people have found home fragrance to be a key factor in relaxation and mood creation, including guys. With all the contention in the news and media about the economy people have become reluctant to spend lots of money on themselves and others. Candles and Diffusers have become a great way to treat yourself or that special someone to something nice but cheap as well.

LT: What’s the process you undertake when creating a new fragrance?

MG: We follow trends all over the world and we also take ideas from our own surroundings. It is important to capture a sense of feeling in a fragrance so that the owner has their own person experience of this. It is just so personal, no two people have the same experience.

LT: Where do you look for inspiration for your collections?

MG: Our own gardens here in Sydney all the way through to trends and popular scents throughout the world, Paris, NYC, London, Italy.

LT: What do you have planned for Palm Beach Collection going forward?

MG: The golden question – expect better scents, and new products. I won’t give anything away just yet but we have some fantastic and innovative new idea’s that will inspire you to keep following this amazing Australian made brand of home fragrance. We love home fragrance!!!

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Thanks to Mike for taking the time to share his experiences and plans with me. Make sure you check out the Palm Beach Collection website to see their great range of products.

About The Author

Lisa Teh is the Editor-in-chief of Couturing.com, one of Australia's top fashion, beauty and lifestyle resources. She has worked on campaigns with brands including David Jones, Myer, Mecca Cosmetica, Simone Perele, Lenovo and L'Oreal. She recently appeared in Couturing's exclusive Australian Fashion Week reality web series, The Frow, alongside top industry names including Toni Maticevski and Maybelline Creative Director Nigel Stanislaus.